Catholic feasts are often associated with the deaths of saints, since these are the dates upon which these men and women entered eternal life. However, the Church also acknowledges three birthdays as feasts: the Nativity of Jesus (Dec. 25), the Nativity of John the Baptist (June 24) and the Nativity of Mary (Sept. 8).
These three births are celebrated due to the individuals’ roles in our salvation. Jesus is God Incarnate and his birth is acknowledged as God coming to live on earth: Emmanuel, “God with us.” John the Baptist is known to be blessed since he recognized the presence of the unborn Jesus and leapt in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth.
Mary, the woman chosen by God to bring our savior into the world, was born without original sin. While we celebrate Mary’s assumption into heaven on the feast of the Assumption (Aug. 15), her earthly birthday is also acknowledged, since her eternal life did not need to wait for her death; her eternity with God had already been guaranteed from the moment of her immaculate conception.
The Church has chosen Dec. 8 as the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary; therefore, we acknowledge her birthday exactly nine months later: Sept. 8.
Using Pray More Novenas (praymorenovenas.com), this year I participated in an online novena to prepare for the feast of the Nativity of Mary. During this online novena, we were encouraged to reflect on the ways in which Mary has inspired us through her earthly life. Indeed, Mary’s birth has provided many gifts for us.
The novena focused on praying for new life within ourselves as we encounter Mary’s son, Jesus. Thinking of Mary’s “yes” to God renews our hope and trust in God’s plans for us. Dwelling upon her Son and the eternal life that awaits those who follow his teachings inspires us in good times and, especially, in times of trial. Knowing she blessed each of us by trusting in God and allowing the new life of his plan to transform the world reminds me to seek her intercession when I experience doubts and anxieties in my own life.
The novena also focused on prayers for strength in marriage relationships. Mary and Joseph model what a covenantal relationship between God and spouses truly looks like. Joseph supported Mary in accepting God’s plan. They raised the Son of God in love and tradition. They supported him and, ultimately, allowed him to do the Father’s work. The novena reminded me to look to the Holy Family for guidance when I experience challenging times in my own marriage.
During the novena, we were encouraged to pray for our children. Even if we do not have children of our own, we can still look to Mary’s example for how to welcome all children who enter our lives: biological or adopted children, nieces and nephews, students, godchildren, neighbours, and friends. Mary, conceived without sin, may sound like a hard act for us to follow, but she was a mother. She faced similar situations to many of us, and is there (as our mother) for us to turn to in prayer when we need guidance in our relationships with children.
We also prayed that, like Jesus, we may show love and devotion to our parents. Mary was a woman of faith who became a wife and a mother, but before this she was a daughter. She had been raised in faith by loving parents and, through them, had come to know the God who created her without sin and followed his personal call. We can also look to her son, Jesus, who continued to honour and respect his mother until the end of his earthly life by ensuring that John would look after her (Jn 19: 26-27). May these thoughts of parenthood affect us as we care for our parents, at all stages of life.
Celebrating the gifts associated with the nativity of our Blessed Mother helps me prepare for October, the month of the Rosary. The powerful prayer of the Rosary enables us to reflect on the earthly life of Jesus – a life that started in the womb of the woman whose birth we celebrate every September.
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